$39 Cheap Flights to Des Moines

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Flight deals to Des Moines Airport

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best round-trip flight to Des Moines Airport? If you want to travel to Des Moines Airport next month, round-trip fares start from $71. Find the lowest prices on one-way and round-trip tickets right here.

Find the cheapest time to fly to Des Moines

Flexible on travel dates? Find the cheapest month – or even day – to fly to Des Moines.

Airports near Des Moines

Compare routes to Des Moines below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier.

Direct flights to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

The average flight time to Des Moines is 2 hours and 54 minutes. We've calculated this based on journeys from Washington, D.C..
American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Allegiant Air, United, Southwest Airlines, Qatar Airways and Republic Airways all fly non-stop to Des Moines.
The cheapest month to fly to Des Moines is usually January.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Des Moines but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 38 minutes.
The best price we found for a round-trip flight to Des Moines is $71. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that the cheapest date to fly to Des Moines Airport is Thursday, January 22, 2026.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar, and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Des Moines is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Allegiant Air offers the cheapest flight tickets to Des Moines.

Flying to Des Moines

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$71
Cheapest month to flyJanuary
Average flight time2 hrs, 38 mins
Most popular airlineAmerican Airlines
Average flights per week1,744

Discover Des Moines

How to find cheap flights to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • Right now, $39 is the cheapest price for a one-way flight to Des Moines International Airport. Or you can reserve a return plane ticket to DSM for $71.

  • Book when it's best with Price Alerts. You'll get an email or a notification on the app if the price of tickets to DSM changes.

  • Lock in a bargain on tickets to Des Moines, where Des Moines International Airport is located, by booking early. You're more likely to discover a great deal and have a wider selection of departure options.

  • Select the 'Add nearby airports' filter and expand your search for cheap flights to Des Moines. This will show you every airport around your departure and destination points.

  • Search for plane tickets to Des Moines International Airport that come with a stop or two. Indirect routes are often cheaper. After your results appear, select the 'Stops' filter to explore your options.

Best time to go to Des Moines

  • You can typically catch the cheapest flight to Des Moines in May.

  • If you have flexible travel dates, take advantage of the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest month, and even day of the year, for flights to DSM.

  • July is the most popular month for flights to DSM. It's an ideal time to experience Des Moines at its liveliest.

  • The quietest time of the year to travel is April. Book your plane tickets to Des Moines then and enjoy sightseeing at a more relaxed pace.

  • With averages of between 59ºF and 88ºF, July is when Des Moines is warmest. Schedule your visit around your preferred weather conditions to make the most of your time here.

  • January sees the lowest temperatures, ranging from about 9ºF to 36ºF.

  • October comes with a lower chance of grey skies. With five days of rain on average, this is the driest month in Des Moines.

  • It's rainiest in May, which gets around ten days of wet weather.

Traveling to Des Moines International Airport (DSM): What you need to know

Getting to central Des Moines from Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

Des Moines highlights

  • These leading sights should be on your must-do list after hopping off your flight to Des Moines:

    • Grandview Park: Offering a memorable introduction to what the city has to offer, this landmark is around 3 miles east of the center.

    • Discovery Garden: Find a nice place to sit and enjoy some time out here while exploring Des Moines. You'll find this park roughly 3 miles east of the center.

    • John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park: Looking for more reasons to visit Des Moines? This landmark draws in the crowds and is about 2 miles south-west of the city center.

How to get to Ames from Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • The nearby city of Ames is about 40 miles from DSM. Heading into the center by cab or ride-share takes around 50 minutes.

  • Allow for a travel time of 9 hours 30 minutes or so when making your way to Ames on public transport.

Traveling from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to Marshalltown

  • Marshalltown is about 55 miles from Des Moines International Airport if you're going in that direction.

  • Going there by car takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.

Explore more of the United States

  • There are plenty more places to explore in the United States, starting with Kansas City. Jazz 1, National WWI Museum and Memorial and Jazz Pantheon are must-sees in this city, which is about 170 miles south of Des Moines. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is the major airport in Kansas City.

  • Omaha fits right into any adventure through the United States. You'll find it roughly 120 miles west of Des Moines. Children’s Adventure Trails, Kiewit Luminarium and Suzanne & Walter Scott Aquarium are visitor favorites.

  • Let your travels lead you to Lincoln. Roughly 170 miles west of Des Moines, Hyde Observatory, Museum of American Speed and Lied Center for Performing Arts are reasons to go.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.